Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-23
THE TEXAS INQUIRY.

noticed.
THE TEXAS INQUIRY.
Witnesses Against the Complafnants
Heard To-day.
ing. AS the complainants had no more witnesses
on hand the defense opened their case
THE KILLING OF BOLTON
The first witness was VIM. Cawse white, a farmer,
Al years old, resident Of Washington county, who
testified that he was clerk at Flewellyn's polling
place. The count Of ballots began at twenty
minutes past six, and went on until 1l.3O; then
there was rap on the door; witness was keeping
the tally-sheet; In a few seconds gun was fired;
witness started to run out the front door: saw a
gun leveed at. him, and turned and ran out OF the
other door and went home; saw Bolton (who was
killed. lying on the floor; his head was lying on
the threshold of the door and his feet inside; he
had apparently made step or two inside when
shot; knew Bolton; hadn't seen him before that
day; twas not minute from the time Bolton en-
tered the door until he was shot down; witness
was in the room all evening; saw no armed or
masked d. mem ne a heard nobody give the order TO
gun, but as he started to run out he
RAN ALMOST AGAINST A GuN-BARREL;
turned instantly and ran out the other door, Polk
Hill (colOred) was in the room and left lust as
there was the knock at the door; saw no disguise;
u nduukeTCulcI was lalO over Cne Oed0 mans face
when witness saw him next morning. 1t was the
general belief that Polk Hill shot Bolton. Witness
did not recognize Bolton he entered the door, as
he was paying close attention to his tally sheet,
Up to the shooting only 50 votes were counted out
OF about 159 cast The ballots badly scratched
and the counting was slow. or the votes counted
there was but little difference in the number cast
for Kirk {democrat) and Schultze republican).
THE ELECTION PEACEABLE AND ORDERLY.
On cross-examfnation by Mr.. Teller, witness said
he had been in Texas twenty years; came directly
from England to Texas; had always voted the
democratic ticket. Witness saw Bolton before the
polls were opened and did not see him again until
the day after ne was killed. The election was
peaceable and orderly. Witness did not anticipate
any trouble when he heard the knock at the door,
could see Bolton was the only man who undertook
to enter the door; witness saw but one man at the
door and didn't have time to recognize him when
the ballot box, and witness did not anticipate any
trouble; did not see Bolton with any weapon: it
was not until some time after that the charge was
made that Bolton was disguised and armed. Wit
ness was never SO badly scared in his life, and not
knowing whence the next shot might come, he
ran away. Witness SwOre that he never had said
that Bolton was masked.
CoNTRAD1cTING THE TESTIMONY OF THE OTHER SIDE
Robert Wright Cwhite), aged 22, native Of
washington county, and voter at Flewellyns,
was the next witness; was clerk at the last
election there the back door OF the room in which
the count was proceeding was more used Wit
ness heard knock at the back door and heard
somebody get up, he supposed to open the door;
then gun was fired. Witness jumped up and
nina S nSt % o
the dead man; saw no arms. Witness contradict
ed the testim21y Of the other side that armed men
throw up their hands He swore that no such
thing occurred. He saw Polk Hill, Andy Hays
and John Glass. all colored, with guns; afterwards
saw these guns in the front gallery, from where
Bolton was shot. When witness ran out he
thought the dead man was Bolton, but as his face
was covered with blood he was not sure.
HE WAS "AGOIN' PRETTY PEART."
To Mr. Teller the witness said he did not stay in
the house after the shot second more than possi-
BILE; he ran out, jumping over the dead body.
"Were you in a hurry to get Out?" asked Mr.
Teller
swell, was agoin' pretty peart," )" was the reply
& Mhen witness & stepped % over she BODY It had on
only at the top button and loose at the bottom
AS Bolton entered the back door he was shot from
negroes had doubled -barreled guns and one had an
old muSket. Nobody in the room was armed. Wit
ness ran out; after awhile went back, but saw no
body stirring and did not enter the house; had
heard OF no Intended raid, and was entirely sur
prised by the shot. Witness swore that he never
told anybody that ne was ass 50 scared ne didn't know
was disguised. Witness was in Brenham on the
night the three negroes were hanged, but knew
belief was that polk Hin killed Bottom the colored
people all said so. Witness understood that the
three negroes We're hanged @ because they were with
armed.
THE JUSTICE WHO HELD THE BOLTON INQUEST
John A. Vernon, white, aged 81, a farmer, and
justice of the peace In washington county, was
next examined; had lived in that county SO years;
morning alter he was killed; there was no marx
nor disguise on the body when witness, as coroner
first saw it.
Offering Of evidence. Mr. Eust1s proposed to sub
init a certified copy Of the testimony taken at the
cOroner's inquest to show that witnesses who had
sworn before the committee that Bolton was
armed and disguised swore at the inquest that he
Mr. Teller objected, but after some discussion it
Mr. vernon testified that he had been demo-
crat all his life, but was nominated for justice OF
elected last November. In witness justice dis
trict there are the four voting places OF Grahall
Lofts store Flewelyns , and washington @ % Witness
white republicans, advised them (the negroes) to
arm themselves and shoot down any man who at
Lockett and Glider arrested, but they had fed the
country The verdict OF the cOrOnerS Jury was
that Polk Hill killed Bolton and that the eight ne
grOes who were arrested were accessories; that
the killing was by advice OF Ed. LOckett [white).
Witness made efforts to ascertain the names OF
the parties who ralded the DallOt boxes, but they
were not successful
THE RAID ON rsIE GRAHAIL BALLOT BOX.
Bent S. G. Awbrey, white and a farmer, was
Judge at the Graha1 box, which was raided; it
was a republican box, but the negroes did a great
deal OF scratching. Up to Ii pm. when the box was
raided by three masked men, 2ol votes had been
didate) to los for Schultze, republican. Witness
did not identity the raiders but suspected the two
men who were accused OF melting the murder OF
Bolton at FleWellynS.. A pistol was put to his
head and he gave up the ballot box; never saw It
again.
The Missing Army Officer.
LIEUT.. sHAw's DUPLICATED PAY ACCOUNTS.
Nothing has yet been learned OF the whereabouts
OF Lieut.. J. j. Shaw, 9th infantry, who is wanted
for having duplicated his pay accounts. and it is
now believed that he has deserted, with the view